Article of manufacture comprising alpha combination ball and driver



v 1,931- H. c. PEARSON 1,833,531

ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING A COMBINATION BALL AND DRIVER Filed Aug. 5, 1951 I m'entor A tlomey Patented Nov. 24, 1931 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFlCE HENRY C. PEARSON, OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA Application filed August 5, 1931. Serial No. 555,235.

My invention relates to improvements in ball games wherein the ball is propelled by means of a driver in detachable engagement therewith.

,6 The primary object of my invention is the production of a means whereby the interest of the player may be enhanced by a ball game deviating in many respects from ball games in vogue.

An object is to provide such a ball combination that may be played both indoors and outdoors, on a hard surfaced base, rug, carpeted floor, lawn or ordinary dirt course.

A further object of my invention is to produce a ball and driver combination adaptable to both sexes regardless of age.

A further object is the production of a ball practically free from surface slip, a ball that revolves truer than most balls do, adaptable to instantaneous and ready contact with the driver regardless how it may be positioned on the surface, and which requires no attention on the part of the player at the moment of play, the combination differing in said respects and providing a game entirely foreign to the game of croquet, rogue and other ground ball games wherein the eyes of the player must be on the ball rather than the object it is sought to have the ball contact with, the combination, on the other hand, is peculiarly well adapted as a substitute for the ball and mallet used in said games, and in many respects, will materially enhance the players interest in said games the greater skill and more scientific manner of play required having a marked tendency to put the player on his mettle. This applies equally to the game of miniature golf wherein my combination ball and driver for the outdoor game especially is exceedingly well adapted, my driver comprising a most acceptable substitute for the short handled putter, and my ball readily meeting the requirements involved.

A still further object is the provision of such a ball controlled exclusively by means of the driver in contact therewith, and wherewith the ball may readily be positioned, propelled and set free to revolve towards the object without the player stooping to either engage the driver thereto, or play his game, the ball regardless of the number of grooves, being readily contactable by the driver means by merely using the former to position the ball in any desired manner, ordinarily however, the driver may readily be held to easily contact with the ball groove without any maneuvering of the ball, the eyes of the player remaining on the object to be contacted with, and not on the ball.

I attain these objects by the combined ball and driver illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of my invention showing a triple grooved ball and driver in position; Figure 2 is a View of the driver; Figure 3 indieates a section on line 3-3 of Fig. l Figure 4 is a side View of the triple grooved ball; Figure 5 is a side view of a modification there- 7 of, the ball being of double grooved type.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts thruout the several views, the numeral 1 thus indicating the ball proper, 3, 4 and 5 indicating grooves therein, said grooves be- 7 ing at right angle to each other, and are readily adaptable to engagement with the driver 2 and comprising a handle means 8 ferruled as at 9 and engaging a forked element 10. Said forked element is composed of a long curved arm 11 and a short curved arm 12, the ends of both terminating into bluntedges curved upon themselves as at 13 and ll respectively, this latter feature being a matter of convenience rather than of necessity, but serves at the same time to eliminate all hazard incident to sharp pointed arms and the danger these might entail.

It will be noted from the drawings that the curved arm members 11 and 12 lit the diameter of the groove snugly, the longer arm being positioned atop the ball, the shorter downwardly on the innermost side, that is, the side nearest the player. 15 indicates the sweep of the curve formed by the arms when viewed as shown in Fig. 2.

The long arm is primarily used as a guide to control the ball, the player riding or rolling the ball therein as it were, preparatory to its release as will hereinafter be more fully explained.

As indicated'in the modified type of ball,

- Fig. 5, the numeral 6 designates a groove,

and 7 a section of the ball formed thereby.

In operation, the ball is simply placed on the ground or other surface and the driver placed in engagement therewith. The player stands facing the object to be contacted, his eye on the latter and not on the ball. Holding the driver in one hand, right or left as the case may be, the player adjusts himself to position. Satisfied thathe has accomplished that, the player with a full arm movement in a quick forward thrust, and a slight uplifting backward pull, instantaneously releases the ball from the driver whereupon it is free to revolve towards the objectit is driven. In practice, I have repeatedly ascertained that the aim is almost certain, the speedof the released ball exceedingly great, and it runs substantially true, practically free from ground slip; I i i The ball may be made or any suitable substance, wood, rubber, etc., the driver handle may be in one piece or sectional as desired, and obviously, suitable rules for the playing of every conceivable game may readily be adopted.

While I have omitted for the sake of simplicity, illustrations showing further adaptations, it should be understood that these are r 7 possible. I am also aware that slight modifications may from time to time be made in the details of construction without departing, however, from the scope of the present inven tion as herein set forth, and as defined in the claim which is appended hereto. Hence, I do not, limit my present invention to the exact description or construction herein disclosed, but what I do claim, is s v In an article of manufacture, the combination with a ball grooved in its circumferential surface, and adapted for engagement with a driving means, said means comprising a driver having a long arm and a short arm adaptable for detachable engagement with said grooved portion in said ball.

HENRY C. PEARSON. 

